Camera attachment.



V. G. SMITH.

CAMERA ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION min APR.2. 19|?. RENEWED MAY 24. |918.

@vi/b n coo SH01 new lnNiTnn sTnTns PATENT carica.,

VOORHEES GILBERT SMITH, OF IOLA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR E. GIBSONAND i LEIGH V. BOWLUS, BOTH 0F IOLA, KANSAS.

CAMERA ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application lcd April 2, 1917, Serial No. 159,296. Renewed May 24, 1918.Serial No. 236,409.

To M 'who/1t t may concern:

Be it known that I, VooRHEns G. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Iola, in the couny of Allen and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Camera Attachment, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention aims to provide a simple and efficient means fordetachably connecting a. camera, transit or other object upon a tripod.y

Another object of the invention is to provide means for guiding a cameraor other object into position for locking 'upon a tripod. j

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form ofthe invention has beenshown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a camera upon a tripod,showing the top of the tripod in section to illustrate the applicationof the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the invention per se with the adjacentportions of the camera and tripod in section. v

Fig. 3 is a side view of the invention partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a view on the line lL- i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the guiding means.

Fig. 6 is a view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the tripod top 1 is cut away as at 2 to receive thegripping portion of the camera attachment, generally designated by 3.

The gripping portion 13 consists of a bottom plate i to which is securedthe bracket 5. Registering openings are provided in the bottom plate 4and bracket 5 to receive the shank 6 of the operating knob 7. A cam 8mounted on the shank 6 engages arcuate locking or gripping jaws 9 and10. The gripping jaw 9 has opposed ears 11 engaging the pivot pin 12supported within openings in the upstanding arms 13 of the bracket Thegripping jaw 10 has cut away portions to receive the ears 11 of thegripping jaw 9 and is provided with an arcuate collar 14 for engagementwith the pin 12. The bracket arms 13 are bent to form feet 15 to whichare secured the superposed connected plates 16 and 17. An opening 18 inthe plate 16 directly above the gripping jaws 9 and 10 registers withthe inner termination of the cut away portion 19 in the top plate 17 topermit insertion of the depending upwardly tapered locking lug 20 on theplate 21 carried by the vvbottom 22 of the camera.

The cut away portion 19 forms a guide to facilitate insertion of thelocking lug 20 within the opening 18 to a position between the grippingjaws 9 and 10; The operating knob 7 is then turned until the cam 8forces the jaws 9 and 10 inte binding engagement with the lug 20 to holdthe camera or transit in position upon the tripod.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a lug for attachment to a camera or the like,said lug being circular in cross section and of varying diameter, ofopposed arcuate jaws pivotally mounted, said lug being insertiblebetween the jaws, and means below the lug and revoluble about the axisthereof for spreading apart the lower ends of the jaws to bind he upperends thereof upon the inserted ugs.

2. The combination with a lug for attachment to the bottom of a cameraor the like, said lng gradually increasing in diameter toward its freeend, of a supporting structure, opposed jaws pivotally connected betweentheir ends and within said structure, said jaws being arcuate in crosssection, the lug being insertible between the jaws at one end, a cammounted for rotation between the jaws at the other end, and means foractuating the cam to bind the jaws upon the inserted lng.

3. The combination with a supporting structure having a recess, a plateextending over the recess and having an aperture, there being a guidegroove leading to the aperture, of a tapered lug for attachment to thebottom of a camera or the like, said lug being shiftable along thegroove and into the aperture, the diameter of the lug increasing towardthe free end thereof, opposed jaws pivotally mounted within the recess,said jaws being arcuate in cross section and adapted to receive the lugbetween them at one end, and spreading means movably mounted between theother ends of the jaws to bind the jaws upon the inserted lug.

LL. The combination with a supporting structure having a recess, a plateextending over the recess and having an aperture, there being a guidegroove leading to the aperture, of a tapered lug for attachment to thebottom of a camera or the like, said lug being shiftable along thegroove and into the aperture, the diameter of the lug increasing towardthe free end thereof, opposed jaws pivotally mounted within the recess,said jaws being adapted to receive the lug between them at oneV end, andspreading means movablyA mounted between'the other ends of the jaws tobind the jaws upon theinserted lug.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afxedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses. j

VOORHEES GILBERT SMITH. iVitnesses A. L. PARKS,

Gr. S. STONER;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D C.

